Dispensing apparatus



J y 1944 I s. D. PO SEN ETAL 2,354,348

DI SPENS ING APPARATUS Filed July 29, 1941 INVENTOR 6 SAMUEL D. POL$EN 5 BY l 1 ELSO I I ONEY Patented July 25, 1944- 1 UNITED ST T S DISPENSING APPARATUS 18 Claims.

' This invention relates to new and useful improvements in dispensing apparatus andhasparticular relation to a container and.:measuring..device for amilkor the like dispensing-machine.

lhe objects and, advantages of -the invention will become apparent from a considerationof the following detailed description-takenin .con-

nection-with theaccompanying drawing wherein a satisfactory: embodiment of .theinvention is shown. However, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the details ,disclosed .but includes all such-variations and modifications as fall within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims. In the drawing: i Fig. 1 is a vertical central sectional view through the container of the invention; 1

Fig. 2-is a similar view of the upper portionzo'f the container and showing the measuring device or dipper in discharging position; 1 r

Fig; 3 'isan enlarged detail sectional View show-- ing'a sealing means employed; Fig. 4 is a sectional viewtaken as alongih .line.x4- ,4 of Fig. 1; and J Fig; 5' is'zan' enlarged sectional view through the measuring device or dipper of the invention. Referring in detail to the drawing the numeral Ill generally designates a container having an open upper end surrounded, by 'a neck portion ll. On the upper end of the .container is a head all generally designated I2 and: including uppersand lower separable portions or partswlil'and 14 re;-

spectively. Lower head part1! comprises an annular "dependin flange l5 fitting within the neck portion H and further includes a trough l6 also :annular and encircling the :said flange.

The bottom wall I! of the trough Iii inclines toward .a well or depressed portion 18 from the erally designated 20, is'associatedswith the well and spout and comprises a plate-like portion 21! fitted within the upper end of the well. Such :portion '2! has a discharge opening 22 therethrough for the passage-of liquid from the trough into thewell. Located within the well in :asso- 'ciation with the opening 22 is a floatablevalve .23 shown as in the form of a hollow ball of light weight material.

'- 0n the lower side of the plate-like portion 24 of the guard device is an L-shaped flange. 2A a -parit'sof whichserves to retain the yalvie 2.3 in :association with the opening '22. With this parrangement it. will be clear that on any. attempt to, pass liquid .throughthe spout 19' into the trough -I6 andthus into the container; the bali val-ve23 will be floated onto its seat preventing the accomplishment of the intended purpose. v In addition the L-shaped flange 24 prevents the insertionof any instrument through the spout into enga ement with the, all valve should n ttempt-be ma e t hold it 01 its se tto perm --0.f the'p s ins o guid'irito the container rou thespout l9.-

-, The upper part 43 of the head 12 functions as a ;-c.overi-n r l e f r e penuppera end @of the container and .also'as a cover for the trough 11:6; Thus partior clo u e 21?. l des a fla ge :25

entering the open upper end of 'part- M and :fun her. includes a radial'flange 2.6 limitin mo e- ;ment; or the sai flan .25. into the part Guard device 29 includes a pair of upstanding strumentthroughthe spout l9.

7 vBettom-wall 2e of the container- Ill-is pwvided withya well or depression 29 into which ;a dipper 53,0, substantially fits as seen best in Fig. 1. 'Ihis ipp s e is- 5 in des a sp ut-like our n por o 31whi hf n t ns as. a tripping portion. Theq o t m wall- 32 of the dipper i -reimdedor cilrvedas shown. Howeventoward its rear end s c wal 32 curv s. upwardly rather. sharplymas at i3 3' aI 1d2Sl G8d from such p rtion. 331 s a wal .or flan 4, the; described: construction resultnjsini e forma i n at a pocket 35 in the under sideof-the dipper in spaced relation to the pour- .in po t n the o An eperat-ing means or rod 36 has secured to l tslower end a bail-like or inverted U-sha-ped .device 3.! the free .endportions .of the arms of which are pivotally. connected with the dipper at 38. Associated with such :device. ,3] .andthe lower end of the rod'orlmeans 36 is an agitator .39 in t e fo m o disc, t no ed that. th w 2.9

and thepdipp er'SU are of such relative'sizes that the latter may substantially fill the former *whereby through theme of the dipper, its rear wall being of 'a height equal to theheightior depthof the well, substantially all of'the contents of thecentainer I0, down to the last small 'quant'ity,'may be gotten into the dipper.

The top wall .of theupper. headpart 13' in- ;cludesiaportion 4'0 and .a centrally located'raised linemlzzer.or. portion: 41;.- having :an. opening 42 2. through its upper end and about such Opening and extending upwardly therefrom is a tubular extension 43 defining a socket 43a opening through the upper side of the closure or part [3. Opening 42 is cut back whereby a shoulder 44 is formed at the inner end of the extension 43 and the purpose of such shoulder will appear. A lip 45 in the inner. end" portion of the extension provides a second shoulder46.

Located in the opening 42 is a spider 41 including a hub portion 48 through which the operating rod or means 36 passes. This spideris arranged against the shoulder 44 and has a tight fit. upper or outermost end portion of the operating rod is located within the said socket 430, of the extension 43. Disposed in said socket and over such portion of the rod is a seal 49. Such seal comprises a bellows-like structure of paper or like material open at its lower end but at its upper end closed by a cap 50. The cap 59 includes a flange glued or otherwise secured to the seal body and an upstanding crown-like portion 52 receiving the upper end of the operatin rod 36 as best'shown in Fig. 3.

Within the inner or lower end of the seal 49 is arranged a split spring ring 53. When the container is filled after having been sterilized, the dipper and operating rod are located in the container and the two head portions are sealed together in any suitable manner and the head is sealed to the container as by any or the usual wire and lead seal device (not shown). The seal 49 is passed over the upper end portion of the rod 35 within the socket 43a'of' the extension 43and the split spring ring 53 snaps into place against the'shoulder 46 thus securing the seal in place. This locates the upper end of the rod 35 in the cap 59 of the seal 49. i

' Now a sealing device 54, in the form of a paper cap or the like, is passed over the upper end of the extension 43 to fully cover such end and the seal 49. For the purpose of accommodating the cap 54 the upper end of the extension 43- is provided externally with a bead 55. Similarly a 'cap (not shown) of the type used for closing bottles and including a flange to be forced'over a bead is applied to the discharge end of the spout Hi the said end being provided externally with a bead 56 for the reception of such cap and over which the flange of the latter may be forced.

The container as shown in Fig. 1 has been sterilized, reassembled, filled and sealed and is ready for shipment. On reaching its destination the caps 54 and 51 (on the extension 43'and the spout I9) are removed and the container located in a suitable refrigerating apparatus and an operating mechanism attached to the upper end of the rod 36 which end, it will be noted, is reduced inwardly of its upper end as at 58, for the making of a suitabl connection with an actuating mechanism. Such connection with an actuating mechanism is made without removing the cap 59.

On the mechanism (not shown) operating, the rod 36 and the dipper 39 are drawn upwardly. The bellows-like seal 49 expands as the rod is moved sincethe split ring 53 is anchoring the lower end of the seal. Thus the seal covers at all times all parts of the rod that may be drawn outwardly of the container and the head I2.

From this it Will be seen that dust and the like are prevented from entering the container through th opening 42 and in addition the means or rod 36 is at all times protected from When the container is full and sealed the exposure, even when drawn upwardly to raise the dipper.

As the rod 36 approaches the limit of its upward movement the pouring or tripping portion 3| of the dipper engages the inner surface or corner portion 60 of the head I2. It is noted that the part or edges 59 of the dipper is at an angle and therefore as it engages the surface 60 and the upward movement of the dipper continues the said portion 59 will by the mentioned engagement cause the dipper to tilt or rock about its pivotal mounting 38 and when the rod 36 reaches the limit of its upward movement the dipper will be positioned as in Fig. 2 wherein it will be apparent that the contents of the dipper have been or are being discharged into the trough I6.

When the dipper is empty the rod 36 is lowered or moved or permitted to move in the opposite direction to lower the dipper into the contents of the container. As the dipper moves from the surface 60 it will tend to right itself by swinging about the pivotal mounting 38 andthus as it hits the contents of the container its bottom wall 32 will engage first. The effect of the pocket 35 then is to cause the dipper to rock on the pivotal mounting to have the dipper descend in the liquid with the pouring spout-like portion 3| of the dipper as the leading part of the dipper.

The mechanism for operating the dipper forms the subject matter of a separate invention but its action is such that the dipper makes several up and down movements for each time it discharges into the trough 6. When the container has been sitting for some time and the dipper has not "been operated, the contents of the container. being milk, all cream will collect in the upper portion of the container and the contents of the dipper will be practically water. Now if the dipper is raised and discharged the customer will receive What amounts to skimmed milk.

The same is true if the dipper is only raised and lowered in the contents of the container without tilting the dipper in any way. However, with the present arrangement when the dipper in its downward movement hits the contents of the container the dipper is rocked about the pivots 38 to a tilted position and in such position descends in the'contents of the container. There- 'fore the matter accumulated in thedipper during the time it is stationary at the bottom of the container will be washed from the dipper since the latter is descending with its pouring portion 3| foremost, it being understood that the upper side of the dipper is open. During this same operation the agitator disc 39 acts as a dasher helping to mix the milk and cream for each dispensing operation.

container and for said trough and. spaced above the latter.

' 2. In a dispensing apparatus, a containerhaving an open upper end, 'a head on and closing said end, a horizontally disposed annular trough i-n said head, a discharge spout leading from said trough, :said trough having its bottom wall inclined toward said spout, a dipper in said container, an actuating means pivotally connected with said dipper and extending through said head, said dipper including a tripping portion, and said head including an annular portion located above said trough to-be engaged by said tripping portion of the dipper to cause the latter on actuation thereof by said means to tilt and discharge into said trough. a g

3. In a dispensing apparatus, a'container having an open upper end, a head including upper and-lower separable parts, a flange within said lower partand fitting into said open end of thecontainer, a trough about saidflange and including a depressed portion constituting a well, said trough having its bottom wall inclined toward 'said'well, a discharge" spout leading from said opening and-the spout, a floatable valve located at the spout side of said discharge opening to close'the latteron any attempt to insert liquid through the spout,'and said bafile protecting said valve'f'rom tampering by means inserted through the spout. 4-. In a dispensing apparatus, a container having an open upper end, a head on said end, a trough in said head, a discharge opening from said trough,a'guard device associated with said discharge opening" andhaVingan opening laterally' of said discharge opening, a floatable valve located to close the opening in the guard device on any attempt to insert liquid into said trough through saiddischarge opening, and flanges on said guard device in positions to interfere with the-insertion of an instrument through the discharge opening into engagement with said valve. 5. In a dispensing apparatus, a container having anopen upper end, a head closing the open end of the container and including upper and lower separable parts, a trough in said head, said trough-including a depressed portion forming a well, a discharge spout leading from said well, a guard device including a plate-like portion fitting in the upper end of said well and having an forming a covering for the open end of the con-' tai-ne'r and for the trough, and said upper-head part and said I guard device including engaging portions whereby the plate-like portion of the guard device is held against movement on the insertion of an instrument through the spout.

6. In a dispensing apparatus, a container having an open end, a head including separable parts, a flange on one of said parts and entering the open end of the container, an annular trough supported by and located radially of and in slightly spaced relation to said flange, a discharge spout leading from the bottom of said trough, said trough arranged at an angle and inclining toward said spout, and said upper part of the head comprising a covering for said open end of the container and for the upper open side of said trough.

7. In a dispensing apparatus, a container having anopen: upper .end a head on said end, a trough in said head; a discharge opening :from said trough, a dipper within said container, an operating rod, means pivotally connecting said rod with the dipper,-said rod passing through said head for actuation'from the exterior of the containerfo-r'raising and lowering said dipper in the container to discharge the contents of the latter into said trough, a seal-secured at its lower end to said head and enclosing the outer end of said operating rod, and said seal comprising an extensible bellows-like means whereby as said rod is raised and lowered to raise and lower the dipper all portions of the rod drawn to the outer side of thecontainer and head are-kept enclosed by said seal." I

8.' In a dispensing apparatus, a container having an open upper end, ahead on saidend, a trough in said head,a discharge opening from said trough, a dipper within said container, an operating rod, means pivotally connecting said rod withthe dipper, said rod passing through said head for actuationfrom the exterior of the container for raising and lowering said dipper in the container to discharge the contents of the latter into the trough, a tubular extension at the outer side of said head, said rod when the'dipper is inits lowermost position disposed with its upper end in said extension, an extensible sealabo'ut said rod portion in said extension and having its lower end anchored in said extension and of a bellowsconstruction to maintain the rod enclosed on any upward movement thereof, said extension having an outer bead about its upper end, and a cap clamped over said bead and closing the upper end of said extension for transportation of the container.

9. In a dispensing apparatus, a container hav-- ing anopen upper end, a head on said end, a trough. insaid head, a discharge opening from said trough, a dipper within said container, an operating rod, means pivotally connecting said rod with saiddipper, .said rod passing through said head for actuation from the exterior'of the container. =forraising andlowering said dipper in the container to discharge the contents of the latter into the trough, a tubular extension at the outer side of said head, said rod when the dipper is in it lowermo-styposition disposed with its upper end in said extension. an extensible seal about said rod portion in said extension and having its lower, end anchored in said extension and of a bellows construction to maintain the rod enclosed on. any'upward. movement thereof.

' 10. In a dispensing apparatus, a container having an open upper end, a head on said end, a

trough in said head, a discharge. opening from said trough,--adipper within said container, an

operating rod, means pivotally connecting said rod with the dipper,- said rod passing through said head for actuation from the exterior thereof for raising and-lowering said dipper in the container to discharge the contents of the latter into said trough, a tubular extension at the outer side of said head, said rod when the dipper is in its lowermost position disposedwith its upper end in said extension, an inner annular shoulder at the inner end of said extension, a bellows-type seal within said extension about the rod, a split spring ring in the inner end of said seal and engaging said shoulder and anchoring the lower end of the seal, and said seal adapted to be expanded and contracted to maintain said rod enclosed as and when the latter is raised and lowered to raise and lower the dipper in the container.

11.. In a seal of the character described, an expansible bellows-like body open at one end, means in and maintaining such end of the body expanded for anchoring thesame, and a cap closing the upper end, of said body and'having an outwardly disposed crown-like portion.

12. In a dispensing apparatus, a container having an open upper end, a head on and closing said end, a trough in said head, a discharge spout leading from said trough, a dipperin said container, an actuating means pivotally connected with said dipper in position to suspend the same in balanced liquid carrying condition and extending through said head, said dipper including a tripping portion, said head including a portion located to be engaged by said tripping portion of the dipper to cause the latter on actuation by said means to tilt and discharge into said trough, and said dipper in its underside in spaced relation to said pivotal connection having a pocket whereby as the dipper is dropped into a liquid bottom first the liquid acting on the bottom of the dipper will tilt it about said pivotal connection to an unbalanced pouring position whereby as the dipper descends in the liquid any contents of the dipper will be changed.

13. In a dispensing apparatus, a container having an outlet opening at its upper end, a closure on the container above said outlet, a dipper within the container, an operating means connected with the dipper and passing out through the closure for actuation from the exterior of the container for raising and lowering the dipper in the container to discharge the contents of the latter through said outlet, a seal secured at its lower end to said closure and enclosing the outer end of said operating means, and said seal comprising an extensible bellows-like means whereby as the means is raised and lowered to raise and lower the dipper all portions of the means drawn to the outer side of the container and closure are kept enclosed by said seal.

14. In a dispensing apparatus, a container having an open upper end, a closure on said end, a dipper in said container, an operating means connected with the dipper and passing through said closure for actuation from the exterior of the container for raising and lowering the dipper to discharge the contents of the container through the upper end thereof, said closure having a socket opening through the outer side thereof, said means when the dipper is in its lowermost position disposed with its upper end in said socket, an extensible bellows-like seal about said means portion in said extension and havingits lower end anchored whereby to maintain the means enclosed on any upward movement thereof, an outer bead about the upper end of said socket, and a cap clamped over said bead and closing the upper end of said extension for transportation of the container.

15. In a dispensing apparatus, a container having an open upper end, .a closure on said end, a dipper in said container, an operating means connected with the dipper and passing through said closure for actuation from the exterior of the container for raising and lowering the dipper to discharge the contents of the container through the upper end thereof, said closure having a socket opening through the outer side thereof, said means when thedipper is in its lowermost position disposed with its upper end in said socket and an extensible seal about said means portion in said socket and having its lower end anchored whereby to maintain the means enclosed on any upward movement thereof.

16. In adispensing apparatus, a. container having an open upper end, a closure on said end, a dipper in said container, an operating means connected with the dipper'and passing through said closure for actuation from the exterior of the container for raising, and lowering the dipper to discharge the contents of the container through the upper end thereof, said closure having a socket opening through the outer side thereof, said means when the dipper is in its lowermost position disposed withits upper end in said socket, an inner annular shoulder at the inner end of said socket, an extensible seal within said socket about the means, means in the inner end of said seal and engaging said shoulder and anchoring the inner end of said seal, and said seal adapted to be expanded and contracted to maintain said operating means enclosed as and when the latter is actuated to raise and lower the dipper in the container.

1'7. In a dispensing apparatus, a container and a closure for the upper endof said container, an outlet from the upper portion of the container and including a spout, -a dipper in the container, an actuating mean connected with the dipper and passing out through said closure, said means adapted to be raised and lowered to raise and lower the dipper to discharge the contents of the container through said outlet, said closure having a socket opening through the upper end thereof and receiving the outer end portion of said means when the dipper is in its lowermost position in the container, and an outer bead about the outer end portion of each of said spout and socket for the reception of sealing caps for use when transporting the container.

18. In a dispensing apparatus, a container having an open upper end, a head on said end and comprising separable upper and lower parts, a trough in the lower part of said head, a discharge opening from said trough, a guard device in said head and associated with said discharge opening and having an opening laterally of said discharge opening, a floatable valve located to close the opening in the guard device on any attempt to insert liquid into said trough through said discharge opening, a battle means on said guard de- 7 vice to interfere with the insertion of an instrument through the discharge opening into engagement with said valve, and said guard device comprising a body separate from the parts of said head and removably held in place only by being clamped between the parts of the head.

7 SAMUEL D. POLSEN.

SVEN H. NELSON. 

